George McCaskey returned from Minnesota on Sunday night determined to change the course of the Bears.

Now, McCaskey will.

Described as angry and frustrated by one source close to the situation, the Bears chairman awoke Monday morning empowered by the same emotions and fired Bears general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman.

Firing Trestman was a foregone conclusion, according to several league sources, but getting rid of Emery required more time and thought. Emery’s ouster signals a bold, new era under McCaskey.

These were the right moves, the only way to ensure a fresh start after what was arguably the most disappointing season in the post-1985 Super Bowl era. The Bears routinely don’t respond to problems with this kind of sweeping change but, clearly, it’s a new day at Halas Hall. And Bears fans proclaim, “Alleleuia.’’

Trestman lost his team early this season, if he ever had it at all. From enabling Lance Briggs to looking the other way on Brandon Marshall, Trestman created a culture of permissiveness players took advantage of frequently. He goes down as the latest coordinator unable to adjust to being a head coach, a failed experiment.

Ted Phillips’ role as team president seems safe, for now, but a league source indicated the Bears plan to hire a consultant such as Bill Polian or Mike Holmgren – a veteran decision-maker with a history of NFL success – to tap into his expertise. That person is unlikely to join the team on a full-time basis or assume a title that would supplant Phillips.

Much discussion now will shift to the future of Jay Cutler, but it’s wasted breath until the Bears hire a general manager and head coach. Even Cutler acknowledged that uncertainty Sunday after the season-ending 13-9 loss to the Vikings when the offense, fittingly, failed to score a touchdown. The Bears suddenly have bigger issues than who plays quarterback.